Ottawa Agreement

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 11

Ottawa Agreement

Sir,—My attention has just now been drawn to a report in your Parliamentarycolumns wherein reference is made to my giving my voice against the adoption of the Ottawa agreement, and to consequent laughter from Government benches, particularly when I did not divide the House on the issue. The laughter was merely the reaction of a certain type of mind to the unexpected. I should give my voice against the agreement again and again, were the occasion to present itself. To divide on the question, however, would be, in the circumstances, a mere waste of time and effort. lam grateful to your correspondent, nevertheless, for placing my protest on record, as I regard the agreement as gravely inimical to the interests of many of our manufacturing industries. By the way, at least two other members said, “No,” with me, one a Government member. The characterisation of Labour’s amendment by Mr. Coates as a form of “sidestepping," would seem to indicate that every Parliament in the British Commonwealth was obliged to- carry the resolusions as presented. In that case, why place them before Parliament at all? I am sorry to slay I am convinced that certain members and possibly others, will yet be found laughing ou the other side of their faces. —I am, etc., CLYDE CARR. Wellington, October 28.